Grady Sizemore starts baseball workouts, could soon resume career

Former Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore has recently begun baseball activites after missing all of 2012 and most of 2009-11 with injury problems, reports Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe. He could soon look to resume his big league career.

Sizemore, 30, has battled a series of knee injuries in recent years. He has had microfracture surgery on both knees, most recently on the right last September. Elbow (2009), hernia (2009 and 2011) and back (2012) procedures have limited him as well. Since 2009, Sizemore has undergone seven different surgeries.

During his heyday with the Indians from 2005-08, Sizemore hit .281/.372/.496 (128 OPS+) with an average of 27 home runs and 29 stolen bases per season. He placed fourth in all of baseball in both FanGraphs WAR (26.8) and Baseball-Reference WAR (24.6) during that time. Only Albert Pujols, Chase Utley and Alex Rodriguez were better.

Sizemore hit only .224/.285/.422 in 71 games back in 2011, the last time he played in the majors. He's managed just a .220/.280/.379 (84 OPS+) line in 104 games since 2010, so it's been a long time since he was last an above-average player. Given his knees, I have to think the speed element of his game is no longer there.

Assuming Sizemore would look for the most playing time should he come back to MLB, teams like the Marlins, Mets, Twins, Astros and Phillies could have a leg up in signing him. The Yankees and Nationals could also have interest given their outfield injuries.